Posts Tagged ‘application’

If you are one of the lucky ones to have gotten the new and elusive iPad 2, PCMag.com released an article showing the top 10 apps to show off the iPad’s hardware. In it are games, programs that put the new camera, enhanced gyroscope and processor to the test.

GarageBand simulates playing instruments on the iPad’s screen. For guitar, you tap on the display to play individual notes, strum chords, or bend notes; you can even touch the strings in two places at the same time to palm mute. There’s also an on-screen piano and drum kit, which offer similar features and controls.

iMovie, which was originally created on Apple’s own desktop video-editing application, iMovie works with the new iPad. The easy-to-use app makes good use of the tablet’s touch-screen interface, and lets you clip, add photos, music, themes, and more to the video you capture right on the iPad 2.

An application I recently discovered, called Type N Walk, which is available for the iPhone 4, has raised both interest as well as ethical questions. The program, which can be downloaded for $.99 on the iPhone market, allows users to text while walking. It uses the iPhone’s built in camera to stream video of what is in front of the walker, all the while allowing you to see both your keyboard and the words you are typing.

The application’s website states, “This [transparent viewport] combined with your peripheral vision is just enough visual information to help you avoid obstacles — like walking face-first into a tree!” Personally, I can’t think of anything that is so important to text, that you can’t stop what you are doing for a moment, and safely send the message.

Abt’s customer service representative Theresa O, downloaded the program on her iPhone to experiment. “I don’t like it. The concept is good, but the way the camera is, it’s basically looking at the floor”, she stated. “I still had to look up while walking to be completely safe. It wasn’t very helpful.”

The application’s main website has a video simulating what it is like to use, when walking.

This definitely raises some questions on whether or not a program like this only makes it, what may seem like, easier for people to walk or drive and text. Naturally Abt Electronics doesn’t condone texting while driving or walking, but if any of you have the application, we would like to hear your stories. Even if you do not, we would like to hear your opinions on whether this is a helpful, or harmful application.

Abt’s mobile audio department can turn your car into your own personal playground. John S., mobile electronics department manager called me today and said, “Do you want to come down and see an iPad that I just put in the dash of a car?”

I grabbed my camera and headed down to mobile electronics. I had an image in my head of what I thought it would look like, and admittedly, I wasn’t sure what the iPad would do, but I knew it would look cool.

When I got to the installation bay, I looked in the passenger door as John finished putting on the final touches and tested everything to make sure that the stereo and iPad worked correctly. I told him how cool it looked and then I stopped and said, but what does it do?

< John explained that the iPad could control everything from the ignition, to the locks, to the security system on the Tahoe. He went on to show me it worked in conjunction with the Viper Smart Start App on his Blackberry.

In addition to controlling major systems in the car, it also performs all the functions of an iPad, like accessing iTunes and iPad Apps.

The iPad works off the wireless or 3G network, so if you want to use it as a GPS, radio, or streaming video player, go for it. You can do virtually anything with it.